Senecio plant named ‘Sene Isiyore’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Senecio plant named ‘Sene Isiyore’, characterized by its upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; and daisy-type inflorescences with ray florets that are dark purple and purplish red in color.

Botanical designation: Senecio cruentus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SENE ISIYORE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Senecioplant, botanically known as Senecio cruentus, and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Sene Isiyore’.

The new Senecio plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new upright, uniformly mounding andvigorous Senecio plants with a freely-branching habit, early floweringand numerous attractive inflorescences.

The new Senecio plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted bythe Inventor in March, 2015 of a proprietary selection of Seneciocruentus identified as code designation K0201, not patented, as thefemale, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Senecio cruentusidentified as code designation S12-39-2, not patented, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Senecio plant was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi,Shiga, Japan in February, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Senecio plant by terminal vegetativecuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga,Japan since October, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this newSenecio plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Senecio have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Sene Isiyore’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Sene Isiyore’ as a new and distinct Senecioplant:

-   -   1. Upright and uniformly mounded plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Daisy-type inflorescences with ray florets that are dark        purple and purplish red in color.

Plants of the new Senecio can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Senecio differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in ray floret color as ray florets of plants ofthe new Senecio are dark purple and purplish red in color whereas rayflorets of plants of the female parent selection are scarlet red incolor. In addition, plants of the new Senecio have larger inflorescencesthan plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Senecio can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Senecio differ primarily from plants of themale parent selection in ray floret color as ray florets of plants ofthe new Senecio are dark purple and purplish red in color whereas rayflorets of plants of the male parent selection are purple and pink incolor. In addition, plants of the new Senecio have smallerinflorescences than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Senecio can also be compared to plants of Seneciocruentus ‘Sunsenegonana’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,266. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Senecio differ from plantsof ‘Sunsenegonana’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Senecio are larger and have longer        internodes than plants of ‘Sunsenegonana’.    -   2. Plants of the new Senecio have larger and darker        green-colored leaves than plants of ‘Sunsenegonana’.    -   3. Plants of the new Senecio are more freely flowering than        plants of ‘Sunsenegonana’.    -   4. Plants of the new Senecio have smaller inflorescences than        plants of ‘Sunsenegonana’.    -   5. Plants of the new Senecio differ from plants of        ‘Sunsenegonana’ in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of        the new Senecio are dark purple and purplish red in color        whereas ray florets of plants of ‘Sunsenegonana’ are dark violet        and pink in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Senecio plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Senecio plant.

The photograph at the top of the photographic sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sene Isiyore’ grown ina container.

The photograph at the bottom of the photographic sheet (FIG. 2 ) is aclose-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘Sene Isiyore’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown during the spring in 24-cm containers in anoutdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and under cultural practicestypical of commercial Senecio production. During the production of theplants, day temperatures averaged 10° C. and night temperatures averaged5° C. Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typicalflowering plants. Plants were six months old when the photographs andthe detailed description were taken. In the following description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Senecio cruentus ‘Sene Isiyore’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Senecio            cruentus identified as code designation K0201, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Senecio            cruentus identified as code designation S12-39-2, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About one week at            temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and            winter.—About four weeks at temperatures about 18° C. to 20°            C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,            substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Upright and uniformly mounded            plant habit; daisy-type inflorescences positioned above the            foliar plane; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit            with about six primary branches each with numerous secondary            branches.        -   Plant height.—About 43.3 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 42.5 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 19.3 cm. Diameter: About            3.7 mm. Internode length: About 3.75 cm. Strength: Strong.            Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color:            Close to 143A variably tinged with close to 183C.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 6.8 cm. Width: About 7.7 cm. Shape: Cordate. Apex:            Acute. Base: Cordate. Margin: Crenate to serrate; moderately            undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface: Sparsely            pubescent; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface:            Moderately pubescent, rough; matte. Venation pattern:            Pinnate; reticulate. Color: Developing leaves, upper            surface: Close to 139A. Developing leaves, lower surface:            Close to NN137C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Darker than 139A; venation, close to 137C. Fully expanded            leaves, lower surface: Close to NN137C; venation, close to            137D variably tinged with close to 187A. Leaf petioles:            Length: About 6.4 cm. Diameter: About 2.4 mm. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 137D variably tinged with close to 183B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Daisy-type inflorescences with elliptic-shaped            ray florets; inflorescences arising from upper leaf axils            and positioned above the foliar plane on strong peduncles;            disc and ray florets developing acropetally on a capitulum;            inflorescences face mostly upright; freely flowering habit            with about 103 inflorescences developing per plant during            the flowering season.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Senecio begin            flowering about 22 weeks after planting; plants flower            continuously from winter to late spring in Japan.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences last about two weeks            on the plant; inflorescences persistent.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About            6.8 mm. Shape: Globose. Color: Close to 187D.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 4.4 cm. Depth (height):            About 1 cm. Disc diameter: About 9 mm.        -   Receptacles.—Diameter: About 5.6 mm. Height: About 1.3 mm.            Color: Close to 142D.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 13 per            inflorescence arranged in a single whorl. Length: About            1.8 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acute.            Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire, not undulate. Aspect:            Initially upright, then horizontal; flat. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When            opening, upper surface: Distally, close to 187D and            proximally, close to 61B. When opening, lower surface: Close            to 70A and 70B. Fully opened, upper surface: Distally, close            to 79B and proximally, close to 59C; venation, similar to            lamina colors; color becoming closer to 79B and 70C with            subsequent development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close            to 72B; midvein, close to 74D, and lateral venation, close            to 72B; color does not change with subsequent development.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 139. Length:            About 6.6 mm. Diameter, at apex: About 0.9 mm. Diameter, at            base: About 0.7 mm. Shape: Tubular; apex dentate,            five-pointed. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature and            mature: Close to N79A.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity and arrangement: About 13 per            inflorescence arranged in a single whorl. Length: About            2 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly            acute. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to            137B. Color, lower surface: Close to NN137C variably tinged            with close to N79B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright to outwardly.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 137C variably            tinged with close to N79A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Filament length: About 1.2 mm. Filament color: Close            to 145D. Anther size: About 1 mm by 1.5 mm. Anther shape:            Narrowly ellipsoidal. Anther color: Close to N79A. Pollen            amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 13B. Gynoecium:            Present on both ray and disc florets. Pistil length: About            6.3 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: Close to            N79A. Style color: Close to 157D. Ovary color: Close to            157D.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Senecio.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Senecio have    not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Senecio plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Senecio have been observed    to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 0° C. to about 30° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Senecio plant named ‘Sene Isiyore’as illustrated and described.